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This is worrying because poor sleep in early childhood has been linked to allergic rhinitis and problems with the immune system, as well as anxiety and depression. Even minimal sleep restriction can have effects on your child’s day-to-day life.Īccording to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a quarter of children under the age of 5 don’t get adequate sleep. Sleepiness can also affect your child’s ability to pay attention, with ramifications for their performance in school. What Happens When Children Don’t Get Enough Sleep?Īs every parent knows, a child that’s short on sleep can swing between being grumpy and hyperactive, with effects that can mimic ADHD. In toddlers, napping appears to be necessary for memory consolidation, executive attention, and motor skill development. Sleep also has important effects on growth, especially in early infancy. In addition to having a direct effect on happiness, research shows that sleep impacts alertness and attention, cognitive performance, mood, resiliency, vocabulary acquisition, and learning and memory. Sleep plays a crucial role in the development of young minds. Through a combination of sleep hygiene, age-appropriate routines, and close attention to any sleep disorders, you can help your child get the rest they need to grow up strong and healthy. Understanding their sleep needs is the first step towards providing better sleep for your children. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that sleep problems affect 25 to 50 percent of children and 40 percent of adolescents. But if you’re finding it impossible to help your toddler sleep, you’re not alone. Sleep is an essential building block for your child’s mental and physical health. We will continue to monitor and revise this article as new literature is published on children and sleep. Our medical review team has recently evaluated this page to ensure accuracy.